Rediscover
Cranberries!
The cranberry’s tart, tangy taste is commonly enjoyed in juices, side dishes, baked goods, sauces and
as a dried fruit snack. While consumers love the crimson berry’s flavor, the versatile cranberry is one
of the few fruits native to North America and boasts many health benefits.
The serving size needed to offset an infection is modest.
The Can-Do Cranberry! Recent reports show that one 8 oz. serving of cranberry juice
Nutrient dense cranberries provide vitamins, minerals and cocktail prevented E. coli from adhering to the bladder cells in
phytonutrients without providing an excess of calories (1 a group of volunteers. Additional findings published by Howell
cup of raw cranberries has about 50 calories). Naturally fat- and Foxman reported that not only are cranberry PACs able
free and with very little sodium, cranberries easily fit within to inhibit the adhesion of antibiotic susceptible bacteria, but
the Dietary Guidelines. resistant strains as well.12 The authors also state that the anti-
adhesion effect can last up to 10 hours after consumption,
Phytonutrients are naturally derived plant compounds that suggesting that two servings of cranberry juice cocktail a day,
possess antioxidant activity and a wide-range of benefits consumed at appropriate intervals, can exert their protective
for human health. Cranberries contain phytonutrients, effect for nearly the entire day.
polyphenols and the flavanol, proanthocyanidin (PAC). The
unusual A-type structure of the cranberry appears to be Cranberries and Heart Health
responsible for the anti-adhesive properties not found in other Cranberries can help to support cardiovascular health and are
PAC-containing fruits and vegetables.1 The PACs in cranberries the perfect addition to a heart-healthy diet. Whole cranberries
help prevent the adhesion of certain harmful bacteria, are a good source of dietary fiber, and all cranberry products
including E. coli, associated with urinary tract infections contain flavonoids and polyphenolics, natural compounds that
(UTIs).2,3 They may also help to inhibit the bacteria associated offer a wide range of potential heart health benefits.13
with gum disease and stomach ulcers.4-7
Flavonoids have been shown to function as potent
Cranberry and Urinary antioxidants both in vitro and in vivo and may reduce the risk
Tract Health of atherosclerosis. Cranberries contain significant amounts
of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds that have
Over 50 years of research shows that cranberries are associated been demonstrated to inhibit low density lipoprotein (LDL)
with reduced risk of UTIs, a painful condition that afflicts some oxidation and favorably affect platelet function.14-18 Ongoing
11 million American women each year and costs over $1.6 research suggests that cranberries may offer a natural defense
billion dollars annually to treat.8 against atherosclerosis.
The PACs found in cranberries inhibit the fimbrial adhesion
of bacteria, including E. coli, to the urinary tract epithelium
Cranberries and Ulcers
and therefore the subsequent reproduction required for Similar to the ability to prevent the adhesion of bacteria to the
infection.9-11 It is these anti-adhesion powers that appears to urinary tract, cranberries may prevent adhesion of the bacteria
prevent UTIs rather than the acidification of the urine as was H. pylori to the lining of the stomach. By preventing H. pylori
previously hypothesized.9-11 bacteria from attaching to the stomach wall, cranberries can
help reduce the risk of stomach ulcers. According to the
American Cancer Society, H. pylori bacteria is a major risk supplemented with cranberries. Although these results are
factor for stomach cancer.19 Recent research on digestive very preliminary, compounds in cranberries may prove to be a
health suggests that cranberry juice can be as effective potent cancer fighter.20-22
as probiotics in maintaining good digestive health. A
double-blind trial at the University of Chile found a regular Cranberries—
6.8 oz. serving of 25% cranberry juice was as effective as
a serving of probiotic in suppressing growth of H. pylori Whole Body Benefits
among asymptomatic children.4,5 The study also showed A natural, wholesome fruit, cranberries provide myriad health
the potential for an increased benefit when cranberry and benefits and all commonly enjoyed cranberry products contain
probiotics are combined. the beneficial antioxidants. Research shows that 8 oz. of 25%
cranberry juice cocktail provides the amount of antioxidants
Cranberries and equivalent to 1½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries, 1 ounce
Cancer Prevention sweetened dried fruit or ½ cup cranberry sauce.23-25 Any one
of these types of cranberry-based products will be a healthy
In 1996, laboratory studies conducted by the University of addition to a well-balanced diet.
Illinois and published in Planta Medica demonstrated the
potential anticarcinogenic properties of cranberries. More For more information on the history and health benefits
recently, researchers at the University of Western Ontario of the crimson cranberry, visit the Cranberry Institute at
used an animal model to demonstrate that human breast www.CranberryInstitute.org and for easy-to-follow recipes
cancer cells showed a significantly lower incidence of tumor and cranberry facts, visit www.USCranberries.com.
development when the experimental group's diet was
REFERENCES
1. Howell AB, Reed J, Krueger C, Winterbottom R, Leahy M. A-type cranberry 13. McKay DL, Blumbery JB. Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and
proanthocyanidins and uropathogenic bacterial anti-adhesion activity. Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors. Nutrition Reviews 2007; 65: 490-502.
Phytochemistry 2005; 66 (18): 2281-2291.
14. Krueger, CG, Porter ML, Weibe DA, Cunningham DG, Reed JD. Potential
2. Howell A. Cranberry Proanthocyanidins and the Maintenance of Urinary Tract of cranberry flavonoids in the prevention of copper-induced LDL oxidation.
Health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2002; 42(S): 273-278. Polyphenols Communications, 2000: 447-448.
3. Gupta K, Chou M, Howell A, Wobbe C, Grady R, Stapleton A. Cranberry 15. Reed J. Cranberry flavonoids, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular health. Crit
products inhibit adherence of p-fimbriated Escherichia coli to primary cultured Rev Food Sci Nutr 2002; 42(Supp): 301-316.
bladder and vaginal epithelial cells. J Urol 2007; 177(6): 2357-2360.
16. Ruel G, Pomerleau S, et al. Low-calorie cranberry juice supplementation
4. Burger O, Weiss E, Sharon N, Tabak M, Neeman I, and Ofek I. Inhibition of reduces plasma oxidized LDL and cell adhesion molecule concentrations in
Helicobacter pylori adhesion to human gastric mucus by a high-molecular- men. British Journal of Nutrition 2008; 99(2): 352-359.
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“http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_2X_What_causes_
7. Koo H, Nino de Guzman P, Schobel BD, et al. Influence of cranberry juice stomach_cancer_40.asp?sitearea” http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/
on glucan-mediated processes involved in Streptococcus mutans biofilm CRI_2_2_2X_What_causes_stomach_cancer_40.asp?sitearea. May 5, 2009.
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22. Kresty L, Howell A, Baird M. Cranberry proanthocyanidins induce apoptosis
10. Ahuja S, Kaack B, Roberts J. Loss of fimbrial adhesion with the addition of and inhibit acid-induced proliferation of human esophageal adenocarcinoma
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23. Vinson JA, Bose P, Proch J, et al. Cranberries and Cranberry Products:
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